Figure 1-4 Approaches to the Reduction of the Consumption Amount of Natural Resources

Table 1-4 Examples of specific activities to reduce natural resource consumption

Items	Specific activities (supplier side)	Specific activities (user side)
No occupancy of durable products	·Servicizing·Improving public transportation·Leasing distribution machinery and equipment	·Using public transportation·Sharing and renting
No wasteful consumption of consumables	·Producing and selling durables in appropriate volumes·Sale by measure/weight	·Reducing excessive consumption·Double-sided printing of documents·Paperless·Using downloads
Use items repeatedly and for a long period of time	·Prolong the life of items·Easy maintenance·Upgrading·Products for which only consumable parts are replaced·Long-term repair guarantees	·Long-term use and repair·Reform·Using a Mybag·Reducing use of disposable containers
Reduce consumption of resources per product to be manufactured	·Miniaturizing·Reducing weight and thickness·Simplifying (simplified packaging, refillable products)·Reducing processing loss, etc.·Multi-functioning·Alternative materials	·Green purchasing·Interested in eco-friendly products (companies)·Purchasing products with only needed functions

Source: Ministry of the Environment

“not to spend consumable supplies wastefully,” “use items repeatedly and for a long time”, and “reduce the amount of resources consumed for the production of products.” (Figure 1-4: Approaches to the Reduction of the Consumption Amount of Natural Resources. Table 1-4: Concrete Activity Examples for Reduction of the Consumption Amount of Natural Resources.)

For example, a “my bag” taken when out shopping and a container for refill products, when repeatedly used over a long time, will contribute to the reduction of consumption of natural resources including petroleum used for manufacturing new plastic shopping bags and product containers. This leads to a reduction of carbon dioxide exhaust. By refusing a standard sized plastic shopping bag, sixty-two grams of carbon dioxide emissions can be saved, the equivalent to the emission-reduction amount of five minutes idling in a car. Eighty percent of the prefectures and forty percent of the municipalities have already taken measures to reduce plastic shopping bags with the cooperation and coordination of citizens and businesses, and it is expected to expand the activity further. (Figure 1-5: Implementation Situation of Reduction of Plastic Bags at Municipal Basis Classified by Prefectures – As of November 1, 2008.)

It will be required to expand activity within the unified framework superseding the particular situation of those participant shops and business including convenience stores, and through educating social segments with low awareness of bringing a “my bag” such as young people on the way home from work. It is important to connect reform to the lifestyle of people, starting from the reduction of plastic shopping bags.

Figure 1-5 Implementation Situation of Reduction of Plastic Bags at Municipal Basis Classified by Prefectures – As of November 1, 2008

Source: Ministry of the Environment

## (2) Formation of a Regional Circulation Zone connected to regional development

The basis of the cooperation and coordination of every participant necessary for establishment of a sound material-cycle society is the creation of the Regional Circulation Zone according to the nature of circulative resources and the characteristics of the region. This can be expected to be the driving power of the “regional revitalization” based on the independence and coexistence of the region.

For example, where recycling businesses are gathered, the “eco-towns” of Omuta City and Kita-Kyushu City in Fukuoka